Folding umbrella.



A. J. ERICKSON.

FOLDING UMBRELLA. APPLICATION FILED 05c. 14, 1914.

1,250,292. 2 Patented Dec. 18,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I. I

A. J. ERICKSON.

FOLDING UMBRELLA. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 14, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

LL}! u flErLLIII ILILrLrFPLLLLILL LPD 1 Patented Dec. 18, 1917.

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IZQhLcSUES;

42 flip W] ALBERT J. ERICKSON, or BUFFALO, NEW YORK:

FOLDING UMBRELLA.

Application filed December 14, 191.4

To all whom it may" concern Be it known that I, ALBERT. J En oKso v, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the. county of Erie andState of New York, have invented. certain new and useful Improvements in FoldingUmbrellas;

" of which the following is a specification- My invention relates to a folding 11mbrella and more porticularly to'that type of umbrella having a telescopic stafi capable of being extended or contracted, and folding ribs so that the umbrella can be folded into compact space and be carriedin a pocket...

Another object of my invention is to pro vide a folding umbrella of this type. Which is inexpensive to manufacture and which can be easily opened or closed like an ordinary umbrella, or folded so that itmay be reduced in length not to exceed thirteen inches.

Another object of my invention is to pro- .vide folding ribs having joints, and means for locking the ribs in'extended condition,

without injury to the apanned coating of the ribs.

g y Another object of invention is the pro; vision of means for retaining the sliding.

' runner in theposition it assumes when the umbrella is opened without interfering with the spring catch secured to the inner end of the tip section, and to soconstruct said spring catch that it may slide Within the inner section and automatically project through openings in I said inner section.

Further ob ects arev to so construct the ribs that the cover may be attached thereto without any tendency to be drawn into the hollow of the ribs, and to otherwise improve on folding umbrellas of this type. I

With these and other ob ects in .vieiv, the

invention consists in the novel features of construction, and in the arrangement and combination of partsto be hereinafter described and more particularlypointed out in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings,

Figure l is a vertical sectional view of an umbrella embodying my invention, the urnbrella being open and ready'for use with sufficient. of the frame. and cover shown l a y l st a t e ven i n.

Specification of Letters Patent. 7

Serial No 877,1 2

Fig. 2 s a elevation of my'umbrella wh n completely folded. Fig, 315a vertical sectional view ema 6 .1- larged s ale, the s aff of the. umbrella being, collapsed and theframe. almost folded.

Patented Dec; 13,1917;

I iS 1 vertical Sectional View similar I a to Fig. 1; the parts being shown as th yap' pea .wvhenjtheum rella is almos closed Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed view of the. mtermed a e portion ofa ib, a stay or brace pivotally conne'cted therewith, the.

p'artsi being 'fshoWn they appear hen h mbrellais opened.

1 Fig-[6' is an'enla'rged. cross. s ction hrc gh the stafi'andcertain par s carriedthereby tak n n li 6+6, Fig! l. I

Fig- 7, is an enlarged perspective iew of.

he outer end Qf'one of. the stays. o braces? Fig. 8 1s a cross section taken on line 8+8, F g. 5, the cover bQlIlgDIIllttQlL Fig- 9 is. a c o s section through. the. slid able'r nner, taken on line 99, Fig! 1.0,

ig. :10 is sidefele at on 0f the, s idable runner, v I I ig. 11 is a detach d'persp ctive iew-- of thecatch ring or retainer slijdable oathe in.-

n'er section of t-hB Sthfi'r Fig 121s an enlarged. on line 12l2, Fig; l

' ig. 13 is an enlarged cross ecti n tak n. on .line 1313, Fig; 5'.v 1

crosssec icn, taken Fig. lfisa similar cross section showing the outer rib ember n s ed he. in e frib member with the covering material'betvveen thetvvo.v Fig. 15, is a side elevation of the interme d'iate portion of rib and its, associate brace and stay.

Fig.v I6 is. a e ac d perspec i eview of the outer end of theinner member of one of the ribs.

Fig.. 17 is'a face vie'w of theint'ermediat portion of a rib and the adjacent cndojf the brace connected thereto.

portion of the tip-s ction and. .theadjacent d o the i ner section cf-th'e Staff,"

.Beferring by numerals of reference to. the dra ings, .2 designates the umbrella .stafi a edei ll r s t ea s r Fig. 18 is an enlarged sectionalview of I 1 00 Which is formed ofnaetal tubing and con,

creasing size so that one section is slidable within another and when telescoped, as shown in Fig. 3, the staff will not exceed thirteen inches in length. This staff may be said to comprise an outer or handle section 13, an intermediate section 11, an inner sec tion 15, and a tip section 16. Each section is retained against rotary movement with respect to adjoining sections in any approved manner, and the inner section 15 and intermediate section 14, have spring actuated catches 17 at their outer ends which extend through openings in said section and are respectively adapted to extend into or through openings 18in the surrounding sections'when the staff is extended. In this manner the sections of the staff are rigidly held together at a length corresponding to that'of a staff of an ordinary umbrella. \Vhen it is desired to collapse the staff, it is simply necessary to depress the catches 17 and force the sections of the stafi together so that they assumethe positions shown in Fig. 3. Near the inner end of the inner section 15 anotched rib holding flange 19 is securedto which the inner ends of the ribs 20 are pivotally attached in the usual manner. Applied to the ribs is the usual cover 21 and a cap 22 is threaded or otherwise secured to the inner extremity of said inner section and bears against the cover so as to confine the same between said cap and notched rib holding flange 19. I I o The tip section 16 has arranged therein a spring catch 23 which has a fulcrum protuberance 24 at an intermediate point hearing against the inner surface of said section, a catch lip 25 adapted to pass through an opening 26 in said tip section and enter an opening 27 in said inner section, and a finger piece 28 which extends out through an opening 29 by means of which the spring may be depressed to disengage said'catch lip from the opening 27. When the tip is extended, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the catch lip 25 is entered in the opening 27, and in order to telescope said section it is necessary to exert pressure inwardly against the finger piece 23 to disengage said lip from its receiving opening andjthen force the tip section inwardly into the position shown in Fig. 3. During the time said tip section is being forced into the adjacent section of the staff and while retained in telescoped position,.the spring catch exerts its pressureagainst the inner surface of said inner section but does not become locked, since these lips do not register with any openings in Upon drawlng the tip the inner section. section outwardly, the spring catch recovers itself as soon as the catch lip 25 is brought in line with the opening 27 of said inner section and automatically locks the tip section against lengthwise movement.

Fastened to the inner end of the tip'section is a spring catch 30 fulcrumed against the inner surface of the inner section, as at 31, and having two catch lips 32, 33. Said catch lips are spaced apart, and when the tip section 16 is extended, are adapted to extend through openings 31, 35, respectively, in the inner section 15 of the staff, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. When, however, the tip section is telescoped, the catch lips 32, 33, are confined within the inner section and bear against the inner surface of the latter, as shown in Fig. 3.

Slidable on the staff is a runner 36 to which are pivotally secured the innerends of stays or braces 37 said stays or braces being pivotally connected to the ribs 20, as at 38. The runner is of a size to receive the inner end of the outer or handle section 13 of the staff when the latter is telescoped, as shown in Fig. 3, and it has an enlargement or swell 39 inline with the catch lips 32, 33 of the spring catch 30 secured to the inner end of the tip section. When the runner surrounds the catch lips 32, 33, this enlargement or swell receives the catch lip 33 and prevents depression of the same, which would cause both catch lips 32, 33, to recede into the intermediate staff section and permit the runner to slide beyond the point at which it is intended to be retained. This swell or enlargement of the runner is particularly desirable owing to the fact that the runner is somewhat larger than the inner section and has a certain amount of play around the same which would permit the catch lip 33 to be depressed unless additional space were provided by enlarging the runner at the point directly over said catch lip so that even though the runner were moved laterally on the staff when in the position it assumes when the umbrella is opened, it cannot come in contact with said catch lip and cause the sameto be'depressed. The runner is retained in position on the inner section 15 when the umbrella is opened, by

means of a catch ring or retainer 10 which is slidable on the inner section 15 of the stafi only. Said catch rin or retainer has anoutstanding flange 41 at its inner end and curved spring fingers d2 capable of being pressed inwardly against said section, and it is retained between the catch lips 32, 33, of said spring catch or retainer when the umbrella is open.- At such times the runner 36 frictionally engages said ring and is retained thereby against movement length-' wise on the staff. In order to overcome all" tendency of the runner moving lengthwise under wind pressure, the stays or braces 37 are arranged at a right angle to the staff when the umbrella is open.

By the use of the spring catch 30 secured to the inner end of the tip section, the catch ring or retainer 40 and the runner 36, a full length tip section can be employed, and

s ame:

dining; thee operationrof: closing; the: umi' dottedTlines in, Fig.;;12,- tl1e2loops-;52Zpre- 1 vent-thecurling- 0f the pads undernea'thithe accord when openingth-e unbrella, and rrina 100]; at their maximum strengthrwhen fOldri sarryto:igraspitheyrnlnier aildpullzoutwa-rdly; thereong. the catch ring: and; retainer 40.: re maining in POSltlOIls bet-Ween the t,Wo:. catch;

1ip1s: 32,- 33;.of1'thee spring SOr/Whenifther runner is moved; outwardly on. the: staff? torelose the umbrella, it is:.sprung;o ver-ai pazirrofilugs J48" formedron the; out-error? hair-. dlej-section of: the staff; and to permitaoff this;

- the runnersplit len thwiseat; diametri'ecally opposite zpoints a-s at-A L; .audiitismlso; provided; with a flaringouterrerrdaifi andkan; internal groove- 46- into; which: the lugs '43 enter, thus holding; the umbrella: closeidr.

Each of the ribsg20,comprises: twoiiparts on members/1:7 48, which arepivotallyconnected together and. to the;stays--or braces: 3Zassociated therewith; by the pivot; 38': common to, all. In =crossz section the ribs andr,

. braces are; of; channel: shape and; they are:

mademf, a; size so that the ou'tera member 47 of: each rib folds intofthe innerimemberAS-i and 'therfolded rib members fold; into; the co:- operat-ing :stay orrbrace; thus makingjaycom-z 1 payctlyv foldingrumbrella'; e

Thea-inner end; of: each; outer; rib member iZjis reinforced, as: ati49 and ita-has securedt wlhenthi rib is unfolded; Aszis commonzim umbrellagconstruction, the r i'bsiandr staysiog bracesai-are .japanned; andcas the? 1oopsi52e', ngage? nly, r the; outerrz edgesi ofith'er; inneril; members; 4: 8. of; th l ribsthe; Wearing may ofithe japanned suriacezis completelyi elimh nated.

minimum.

Between the frame; and the, j oints- OffthBnllbS; ]oint1.pa,ds

Ext-are inserted, and when the-ribs are-folded the spring loops 52$.PIOJCt outwardly outer members 1 of the ribs, as they. would unfolding the members. of theribs; the-pads? would; be forced between the sidesof. the-i ribv sections and become l ragged and torn, which said loops. now guard'againsti structed; that they; locle easily-ofrtheir oivn" ing the umbrella. They also giyiee fiddle: tionizir tte gthifer thezrib a the oints. bly

Thus the tendency to: rust: d'uewtoz- Y the metalibeing, exposed ispereduced to:the;

cover 21 3 the; uinbrellanv When: saidpads,work:

v erti'ngw forcef lengthwise 1 on the. handle secreason; of; the reinforcements-aim WhiClLS fll dii Y catches, itisrnecessary.rthatztheiouter end eachrbrace: be. provided: with: an: elongated: opening: 55', so ,uthat when closing: the: urm: brellaithe loo'p'. or catch; will .extenchthrough: said opening; vThis opening also. permits: 7 5 the umbrella-'1 to "be; folded.- rcompactlyu 'Ehe: outerendi of: the innerumeniber: of each-rib-has its sid'e Walls: flare-d"; outwardly; as; 2111 56, and j these flared'; portionsgserve to: pre vent theinner, members of: the: ribs pass=- 1g throughrthe slotsin the braces, which would: cause unlockinggofi the-ribs. andmna der suchiconditions the/"US$11ZWOLlldjElJlWflYSi be uncertain as to the umbrella-opening, cor,- rectly. c These flares L also retain 1 the braces a trifle out of alinement with theribsssofas? to :p'reyent; the ui'nb rIella z from istickingg'when opening; the same, thus? making-it iunnecessary to I shake. org strain thzxumbrellai which:. would in time :tend: to' weaken the same;: Near the-,outer end: OfrGICh-i inner member-r otjthe, rib, apertures 57- are provided. and: I the corer' 21 is sewed? to: the; ribs these points by: a leoseF- tl1 read;connection the three. dbeingasewed through i the cover. t the; seam, as at 5,8 and passed ithrou gh the? aperri titres-from theinner'sideohthe rib and the 1 ends, tied together, :as atc59; on:- the murder or; outer; side of; the: rib. It" isi to be-"noted' that; the, rib is curveel'; on its :under: oruouteriv sidewandgthat thefithread' is exposed only within the i egion' between; said: apertures: so; that, theibracesaand ribs maywsWing re1-a'- tiyelyE-Withoutt the =-thread rubbing" againsti portion thereof. Moreover the con-.- neetiornmadebetween the cover; andirib at' 'thisipointr by means ofi the; thread being;

loose, permits the cover to stretch smoothly over: the edges of the channelr-shapedi rib and wlienatliey outer; rib members are folded: into, the' in'ner: members; .the" cover can enter v the inner members Without straining the-f threadaconnectionu.

It; is K desirable that the mnbrellar be closed before attemptin'gsto'a folds the-same,v an=dr Whenin closed positionrpressure is exerted I against: the e outer: memberscof the ribs from;- Within, Whichmausesthe'ajoirrts to break and the said outer membersnto-zfold ontotheina. nerrmernbersi; The. runner 361 is then 1 taken hold of flandn moved to engage the spring: I

. catch, or:retainer40. The sta'fi is thengcole The spring loops-or catches'52 are SO con-.

lapsed by depressing the catches-$.18 and'extion andaintermediate: section; 1 and Whenthei intermediate: section is. moved";inwardly,1the innerg ie'lrdithereof enters ;.the runneri 36; en gages; thercatclr-ilip: ctr the springizcatcbr- 30 and depresses said lip so as to cause both catch lips 32, 33, to move inwardly into the inner section of the staff. Further thrust on the staff sections causes the spring catch or retainer 40 to move inwardly against the notched rib-receiving flange 19, after which the inward or telescoping movement of the outer handle section of the staff may be completed and the runner moved upwardly to slide onto the spring catch or retainer 40, previously moved inwardly by the inner end of the intermediate'section 14. The tip section 16 may then be forced into the staff by depressing the finger piece 28 of the spring catch 23 and exerting pressure against the outer end of said section. The loose portions of the cover may now be smoothly rolled around the folded ribs and, by means of the usual band, retained in folded position. Y 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is,-

1. In a folding umbrella, a frame having folding ribs, each rib comprising an inner and an outer member pivotally connected together, each of said members being of channel shape in cross section and reversely arranged so that the channels thereof face in opposite directions, the inner end of the outer member being reinforced and provided with a spring loop adapted to engage the outer edge of the inner'member.

2. In a folding umbrella, a frame having through. the slot of said brace when the frame is closed.

'3. In a folding umbrella, folding ribs comprising each an inner and an outer member pivotally connected together, said rib members being channel-shaped in cross section and reversely arranged so that the channels thereof face in opposite directions, said outer member having its inner end reinforced and provided with a spring catch having a loop adapted to engage the outer end of the inner member, covering material secured to said folding ribs, and a joint pad between the joints of each rib and said covering material, said loop being arranged to prevent the joint pad curling around the rib.

4. A folding umbrella having folding ribs and braces connected to said ribs, each of said ribs comprising an inner member and an outer member, a' pivot connecting said inner and outer members together. and with the brace at a point common to all, said rib members and brace being channel shaped in cross section, the rib members being reversely arranged so that the channels thereof face in opposite directions, the outer member of each rib being adapted to fold into the inner member and the inner menr her being adapted to fold-into said brace, said brace being provided with an elongated opening at its outer end to provide two arms straddling the rib members, means for retaining the rib members in open or extended position, and means at the outer end of the inner member to maintain the brace in a position out of line with the rib when the umbrella is closed.

5. An umbrella having a folding frame comprising folding ribs and braces, each rib comprising an outer rib member and an inner rib member, said rib members being pivotally connected together and to their co-acting braces by a pivot common to the three, said rib members and braces being of channel formation in cross section, the rib members being reversely arranged so that the channels thereof face in opposite directions, the outer ribmember of each rib being adapted to fold into the inner rib member and the inner rib member being adapted to fold into the coacting brace, said brace having its outer end cut away between its sides to provide an elongated opening and said inner rib member'having its sides flared at its outer extremity to be engagedby the sides of said brace when the umbrella is closed, thus retaining the braces out of line with the ribs'and preventing binding of the parts when opening the frame.

6. An umbrella having'a folding frame comprising folding ribs and braces connected to said ribs, each rib comprising two rib members pivotally connected together and to their co-acting brace, said rib members and brace being of channel shape in cross section and the brace being cut away at its outer end between its sides to provide an elongated opening, the inner member of each rib having apertures near its outer end arranged at opposite sides of the longitudinal center of said member, covering material extending over said rib and having a thread connection therewith, the thread of said connection being passedthrough said covering material, into the inner rib member, through said apertures and the ends thereof tied together outside of said rib member at a point between said apertures, the thread forming said connection being slack to prevent the cover being drawn into the hollow of the rib member, said rib member being adapted to fold into said brace without said thread connection coming in contact with said brace.

7. A folding umbrella having channel shaped ribs, and a cover stretched over said In testimony whereof I aflix my signature ribs and connecte?) thereto, said cover being in presence of two witnesses.

attached thereto y loose connections pass ing outwardly through the channels of said. ALBERT ERIGKSON ribs so as to prevent the cover being drawn Witnesses:

into the channels of said. ribs when the um- EMIL NEUHART,

brella is opened. EDA M. SCHWEIGER.

Copies of this oatent mav be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0. 

